AndyRoo Posted November 10, 2016 Share Posted November 10, 2016 Well, we went out to the Eglu this morning and our little red ranger was in the nest box mumbling away to herself. We left her for 5 minutes to top up their food and change their water, and opened the hatch again to find that the girl had laid her first (smallish) egg! The poor girl did seem a little bit confused as to what had just happened and stood there while we petted her and reassured her she was ok. I told the OH that the eggs get a little bigger over time, to which she immediately cocked her head as if to say "What?" So we now have 2 layers from our flock, and neither of them is the big fat bluebelle! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandmashazzie Posted November 10, 2016 Share Posted November 10, 2016 My big fat Bluebelle has been rubbish at the egg making malarkey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted November 10, 2016 Share Posted November 10, 2016 she's come on a fair bit in the last couple of weeks still not convinced your blue belle had started to lay before you got her unless she's a poor example of a blue belle my six youngsters are showing no willingness to lay no eggs in a week now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyRoo Posted November 10, 2016 Author Share Posted November 10, 2016 she's come on a fair bit in the last couple of weeks still not convinced your blue belle had started to lay before you got her unless she's a poor example of a blue belle my six youngsters are showing no willingness to lay no eggs in a week now Well, they knew the white star was in lay because someone had previously taken her home but she had been picked on by some other hens so they returned her and mentioned it. I assume they 'knew' the bluebelle was laying because they were (apparently) getting eggs, and she was nearly double the size of the rest of them in the same pen. Maybe they got it wrong and it was one of the much younger hens who was laying. I'm not sure what to think about whether the bluebelles make good layers or not. I've read a lot of times that they are, but then I have also read a few times exactly what grandmashazzie wrote which is that they're not particularly great if you want lots of eggs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted November 10, 2016 Share Posted November 10, 2016 Congratulations on your second egg layer How is the one with the sneezes doing now ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted November 10, 2016 Share Posted November 10, 2016 trouble is not all blue bells are 'bluebelles! Bluebelle is a hybrid trade marked by Meadow Sweet Poultry but there are a few other blue hybrids that are 'made' using the same or nearly the same cross or crosses of breeds but from different stock that may or may not be the same quality or have the same egg laying abilities Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyRoo Posted November 10, 2016 Author Share Posted November 10, 2016 (edited) Congratulations on your second egg layer How is the one with the sneezes doing now ? We can't decide whether it's a cough or a sneeze or whether its something else. She is still doing it, but doesn't seem to be sick in any way. We also noticed that both the white star and the ranger do it too, albeit nowhere near as often. They're both completely healthy and both the laying ones, so I've no concern about them. I also paid a visit to a couple of the other local bird places and asked their opinions, each place said the same thing which was that so long as they are otherwise healthy and showing no signs of sickness, they're fine. One place said that sometimes they just do that and it's perfectly normal. *shrugs* So long as they're not acting sickly then I don't think I am going to worry. If something starts to change, I'll take her to a vet. Luckily there are a couple of vets locally who deal with hens so fortunately there's help close at hand should it be needed. Edited November 10, 2016 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted November 10, 2016 Share Posted November 10, 2016 You can only keep an eye on her and like you say, if she starts to look poorly then you can do something. I sneeze a lot at the moment but I am not ill either Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PixieDust Posted November 12, 2016 Share Posted November 12, 2016 Brilliant news about the egg. My Bluebell, Pixie, lays the very best eggs. I guess they are all individuals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
